Gifts with attitude: FUN DESIGNS COMBINE WITH FUNCTIONALITY IN THIS MONTH’S WEDDING GIFT CHOICES
Sleek, innovative and ironic, Alessi’s range of items for the home provides an easy way to inject a little style and colour into every room...
These Alessandro M. chrome plated corkscrews will bring a smile to your face every time you open a bottle of wine. There are a great range of characters; from chefs, office workers and prisoners to holiday makers and super heroes – choose the one that suits your mood. £21
The original design for this Firenze wall clock was carried out by the Castiglioni brothers in 1965 for the Casa Abitata exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, and was first produced by Alessi in 1996. With Quartz movement and available in blue, light orange, grey and white. £34
This Trinia pencil holder was designed by Hani Rashid who lives in New York and was the author of the new Alessi showroom in New York which opens this August. Alessi also sees this young designer helping revamp their collections over the coming years. Pencil holder in aluminium casting. £33
In the Nuvem collection, Alessi’s designers have created a range of artistically tangled, spun baskets in anodised aluminium that reflect the meaning of the collection’s title in Portuguese – cloud. The pieces retain a light, sketch-like quality that means they are at once striking and versatile. Available in gold, blue and aluminium. £14 - £43
Alessi’s original Blow Up range adds a dramatic touch to any room. This collection combines good looks with functionality and there are lots of different items to choose from. Umbrella stand £115; magazine rack £50
Alessi’s stainless steel Il Conico kettle must be just about the best looking kettle around. Also part of Il Conico range are the espresso coffee maker, sugar bowl with spoon and creamer. Kettle £109
Stefano Giovannoni designed this delightful Mr. & Mrs. Chin salt and pepper set as a kind of mascot for the new Museum of the 21st Century, which gave rise to the creation of ‘Family of Mr. Chin’ series for the “A di Alessi” catalogue: a group of characters, each of whom represents a specific household function. £27
Alessi designer Ron Arad is well known for his family of objects that are both heavily iconic on the aesthetic plane, and hallmarked by the unexpected application of a specific shape/function to a completely new context. The handbag-style Chiringuito two-bottle cooler, which can even be hung from the table, is no exception. £27
The stockpot is probably one of the most important utensils in the kitchen and before creating the La Cintura di Oriuone range, Alessi consulted with Chef Gualtiero Marchesi to design pans that would be as functional as they were stylish, ensuring food is cooked as effectively as possible. Stockpots from £64 - £144
No house should be without as elementary an item as a carpet beater, and knowing that you have this cheeky little face to help you might be just the motivation you need to get to work! Spank Carpet Beater £15
For more information on these and many other fabulous Alessi wedding gifts, visit www.alessi.co.uk
